College Football Preview

I know what you’re thinking. A few weeks ago, “The Grandeur” came out with a NFL Preview talking about season predictions and the greatness of football, so many of you are probably wondering when the college preview coming out. Well here it is.
Despite all the controversies that always seem to creep into the news, players taking money for jobs unperformed or getting credits for elementary-style classes, I still believe the college game is still one of the purist competitions out there. Go to a college football game and then go to anything else, you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s the band, the cheerleaders, the student section. Everyone is involved in the university, its one big family. Not only do you root for the quarterback to throw touchdowns but you root for him because he’s your buddy in chemistry class. It’s the timeless traditions and establishments of college football. “Go Blue” at Michigan, “Between the Hedges” at Georgia, “The 12th Man” at Texas A&M, “Calling the Hogs” at Arkansas and the constant jokes and pranks to insult another school’s intelligence. Time-honored traditions that essential to the college experience.
After several years of knowing who the best team or teams in the country were (USC, Texas, Oklahoma) parity will reign this year across the nation. Everyone has their own predictions of who will play in the BCS games and they all seem to be different. So I’ll join the pack and put my out there.
The BCS has made a dramatic change this year by adding a fifth game called
“The BCS Championship Game.” When the dust is settled I think we’ll see USC back again contending for another national title against Ohio State. Yes the Trojans lost several of “God’s gifts to football” to the NFL but they are still that good. John David Booty may be another Heisman quarterback because he’s going to be throwing to Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith. The offensive line is solid, Pete Carroll will always get the most out of the defense and they have numerous freshman recruits who will contribute immediately. Ohio State might pick up an early loss at Texas, (sooner is better than later) but they have as good a chance to go undefeated as anybody. Quarterback Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. are going to be awesome and Jim Tressel has seemed to consistently win big games since arriving in Columbus.
For the Sugar Bowl, I’ll expect a much-improved Florida team to play Louisville. Chris Leak is a senior and has a year under his belt in Urban Meyer’s offense so he should be ready to have a really good year. Louisville has quietly become on the nation’s better teams and I’d expect them to keep that up this year with Brian Brohm at the controls.
Chad Henne, Mike Hart and Kevin Grady seemed to have matured into their roles these last few years at Michigan and the Wolverines have a good chance to meet Florida State in the Orange Bowl. The Seminoles, under quarterback Drew Weatherford will be as athletic as ever and with Miami having “issues”, they seem to be the best in the ACC.
Despite Big Red Imports-Gate, Oklahoma will be really good this year and they’ll make it to the Fiesta Bowl. Paul Thompson fits well into new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s scheme and Adrian Peterson is a freak-of-nature, if you’re didn’t already know. Charlie Weiss seems to finally have Norte Dame back to respectability with Brady Quinn at quarterback. Jeff Samardzija and Tom Zbikowski are also really good. These two should put on a good show in the desert.
I won’t be surprised if Texas makes a third straight appearance in the Rose Bowl. Yes they lost Vince Young, which is the reason they won’t be playing for the national title, but they have many outstanding players like Jamal Charles, Limas Sweed and Michael Griffin. California will finally have a chance at the BCS with the revised format and they’ll be motivated to reach the local Rose Bowl. Marshawn Lynch will lead the charge for the Bears.
As I said earlier, parity will reign this year so don’t be calling for my head when none of my picks pan out and couple of teams like Colorado and Oregon State are playing for the national title on January 8th. Until then, let the craziness begin.
The Heisman contest will be also be different this year with no Leinart, Bush and Young hogging all the press. My pick for the finalists are Brady Quinn (Norte Dame), Troy Smith (Ohio State), Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma), John David Booty (USC) and Chris Leak (Florida). All these picks are pretty shaking considering so much rides on team success and we’ve already talked about the uncertainty of that.
We’ll there you have it, yet another, and probably incorrect picks as to who will play in this season’s BCS games along with the Heisman Trophy front runners. Feel free to make your picks any day now. Because in college football we already have a playoff system: win every game or don’t win the national championship. So where the upsets are aplenty, sit back and enjoy the war of attrition that is college football.